A cross-sectional examination of response inhibition and working memory on the Stroop task
Abstract
© 2018 Elsevier Inc. The authors examined the association between working memory and
response inhibition on the Stroop task using a cross-sectional, international sample
of 5099 individuals (49.3% male) ages 10–30 (M = 17.04 years; SD = 5.9). Response
inhibition was measured using a Stroop task that included “equal” and “unequal” blocks,
during which the relative frequency of neutral and incongruent trials was manipulated.
Competing stimuli in incongruent trials evinced inhibitory functioning, and having
a lower proportion of incongruent trials (as in unequal blocks) placed higher demands
on working memory. Results for accuracy indicated that age and working memory were
independently associated with response inhibition. Age differences in response inhibition
followed a curvilinear trajectory, with performance improving into early adulthood.
Response inhibition was greatest among individuals with high working memory. For response
time, age uniquely predicted response inhibition in unequal blocks. In equal blocks,
age differences in response inhibition varied as a function of working memory, with
age differences being least pronounced among individuals with high working memory.
The implications of considering the association between response inhibition and working
memory in the context of development are discussed.
Type
Journal articlePermalink
https://hdl.handle.net/10161/16494Published Version (Please cite this version)
10.1016/j.cogdev.2018.02.003Publication Info
Duell, N; Icenogle, G; Silva, K; Chein, J; Steinberg, L; Banich, MT; ... Chaudhary,
N (2018). A cross-sectional examination of response inhibition and working memory on the Stroop
task. Cognitive Development, 47. 10.1016/j.cogdev.2018.02.003. Retrieved from https://hdl.handle.net/10161/16494.This is constructed from limited available data and may be imprecise. To cite this
article, please review & use the official citation provided by the journal.
Collections
More Info
Show full item recordScholars@Duke
Kenneth A. Dodge
William McDougall Distinguished Professor of Public Policy Studies
Kenneth A. Dodge is the William McDougall Distinguished Professor of Public Policy
and Professor of Psychology and Neuroscience at Duke University. He is also the founding
and past director of the Center for Child and Family Policy, as well as the founder
of Family Connects International.
Dodge is a leading scholar in the development and prevention of aggressive and violent
beha
Jennifer Lansford
S. Malcolm Gillis Distinguished Research Professor of Public Policy
Jennifer Lansford is the director of the Center for Child and Family Policy and research
professor in the Sanford School of Public Policy. Dr. Lansford's research focuses
on the development of aggression and other behavior problems in youth, with an emphasis
on how family and peer contexts contribute to or protect against these outcomes. She
examines how experiences with parents (e.g., physical abuse, discipline, divorce)
and
Ann Skinner
Research Scientist
Ann Skinner joined the Center in 2001 and is a Research Scientist with Parenting Across
Cultures (PAC) and C-StARR.
Her research focuses on the ways in which stressful community, familial, and interpersonal
events impact parent-child relationships and the development of aggression and internalizing
behaviors in youth. She has extensive experience in data management of multis
Alphabetical list of authors with Scholars@Duke profiles.

Articles written by Duke faculty are made available through the campus open access policy. For more information see: Duke Open Access Policy
Rights for Collection: Scholarly Articles
Works are deposited here by their authors, and represent their research and opinions, not that of Duke University. Some materials and descriptions may include offensive content. More info